Sudan Army Seizes Rebel Stronghold

Sudanese army forces say they have killed scores of rebels and seized a rebel stronghold.

The army said Saturday it has killed 108 members of the Justice and Equality Movement in the restive Jabel Moun area. It says 61 rebels have been detained.

The army said it is now in control of the area near Sudan's border with Chad. An army spokesman said a number of vehicles were seized during the operation. It was not immediately clear if the Sudanese army suffered any casualties in the fighting.

Last week, the Justice and Equality Movement threatened to pull out of peace talks due to what it described as ongoing aggression by the army. JEM signed a ceasefire agreement with the government in late February.

Darfur rebels took up arms against Sudan's government in 2003. The United Nations says the conflict has killed 300,000 people and displaced some 2.7 million others. Sudan puts the death toll much lower, at 10,000.